The Golden Guernsey goat is a dairy goat breed used for milk production mainly. It is a rare goat breed from the Bailiwick of Guernsey on the Channel Islands.
Exact origin of the Golden Guernsey goat is unknown, but since goat bones have been found in dolmens (a type of Megalithic tomb) as old as 2000 B.C. on the islands, it is likely that the breed began to evolve into its current form about this time. Ancestors of this breed are believed to have been the Oberhasli and Syrian goat breeds.
The breed was developed from local breeds mated to Anglo-Nubian and Swiss breeds during a period from 1920 to 1950 (according to ansi.okstate.edu).
The first documented reference to the Golden Guernsey in its current form dates from 1826 when reference to a “golden goat” was printed in a guide book.
The Golden Guernsey goat was first brought to the Great Britain in 1965, and a sub-breed has evolved known as the British Guernsey.
The English Golden Guernsey Club was formed in 1965, later to become the Golden Guernsey Goat Society. Read more information about this goat breed below.
Golden Guernsey Goat Characteristics
The Golden Guernsey goat is a beautiful, medium sized animal. As the name suggests, that goats are golden in color, with hues ranging from pale blond to deep bronze.
There is great variety in the coat length of the Golden Guernsey goat, and they are smaller and more fine-boned than other British dairy goats. The bucks are sometimes horned, but most of the population are not horned.
Minimum height for the mature buck is about 71 cm, and 66 cm for the does. Minimum weight of the Golden Guernsey bucks is 68.18 kg, and minimum 54.54 kg for the does. Photo & info from Wikipedia.
Uses
Golden Guernsey goat is a dairy goat breed. It is mainly used for milk production. But it is somehow good for meat production.
Special Considerations
The Golden Guernsey goats have very docile and very friendly personalities. They are of good behavior like most other dairy goats. The bucks have been said to be unusually smelly.
The does are pretty good milk producers. But their milk production levels are lower than what is commonly found in the Swiss dairy goat breeds.
Milk of the Golden Guernsey goat is higher in butter fat and proteins. Their milk contain about 3.72 percent butterfat and about 2.81 percent protein.
Milk of the Golden Guernsey goat is excellent for making cheese. The does on average produce about 3.16 kg of milk daily. Review full breed profile of the Golden Guernsey goat in the following table.
| Breed Name | Golden Guernsey |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Milk |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Bulls | About 68.18 kg |
| Doe | About 54.54 kg |
| Horns | The bucks are sometimes horned, but most of the population are not horned. |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Coat Color | Golden with hues ranging from pale blond to deep bronze. |
| Good for Stall Fed | Not Sure |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | Guernsey |
